GRAEME MURTY could be a doubt for Reading's game at Rotherham on Saturday after suffering whiplash injuries in a car crash.

GRAEME MURTY could be a doubt for Reading's game at Rotherham on Saturday after suffering whiplash injuries in a car crash.

Last season's player of the year was a passenger in team-mate Martin Butler's Mercedes travelling back from the team's training ground at Bradfield when they were involved in a collision with a truck on the A340 near Theale.

Physio Jon Fearn, who was at the scene of the accident, said: "Murty went to hospital as a precaution. We will not know how bad his injuries are for a couple of days. Martin Butler suffered a bang to the head and had a bit of a headache but he is OK."

Murty, who has to wear a neck brace, will miss training today.

He said: "I'm a little bit shaken and feel a bit sore, but I'm OK.

"The physio was behind us as we were all coming back to the stadium in a line. He told me to get back in the car and then I was taken to hospital.

I have been told to rest and then have it checked out on Thursday."

Royals boss Alan Pardew added: "It could have been a nasty one, but fortunately everyone is safe."

Should Murty fail to shrug off his injury in time for Saturday then Ricky Newman will almost certainly step in at right-back.

The utility player has overcome his knee injury and played in the reserves' 1-0 defeat at Colchester last week.